Flexible frame and mutually engageable fastening means

Abstract

A flexible frame for an advertising panel is described. The flexible frame has a mutually engageable fastening means, especially, but not exclusively for attachment to a vehicle. The flexible frame could alternatively be attached to a fixed structure.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An advertising system comprising:
 a frame for mounting an advertising panel on a structure, the frame comprising at least one frame member having a flexible flange and a panel-receiving portion, the panel-receiving portion being adapted to releasably engage an advertising panel; and 
 a mutually engageable fastening means comprising first and second fasteners, the second fastener being affixable to the structure; 
 wherein the first fastener is provided on an attachment face of the flange and is adapted to attach the frame in an attachment direction to the second fastener; 
 wherein the flexibility of the flange and the mutual engagement strength of the first and second fasteners are such that the frame and first fastener are separable from the second fastener by peeling action; 
 wherein the first and second fasteners each comprise a strip fastener having a plurality of mushroom-shaped interlocking barbs arranged in rows and columns; and 
 wherein a part of the panel-receiving portion extends beyond the attachment face of the flange in the attachment direction. 
 
     
     
       2. An advertising system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the panel-receiving portion is adapted to receive an edge of an advertising panel. 
     
     
       3. An advertising system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible flange and the panel-receiving portion comprise different materials. 
     
     
       4. An advertising system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the panel-receiving portion is more rigid than the flexible flange. 
     
     
       5. An advertising system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the panel-receiving portion comprises a recess for receiving a protrusion on an advertising panel edge. 
     
     
       6. An advertising system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the recess comprises an elongate slot for retaining the protrusion in the slot whilst allowing a planar part of the advertising panel to extend through the slot. 
     
     
       7. An advertising system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second fasteners are releasably engageable. 
     
     
       8. An advertising system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second fasteners are engaged by pushing the first and second fasteners together and disengaged by pulling them apart. 
     
     
       9. An advertising system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in one of the first and second fasteners, the rows and columns form straight lines, and in the other fastener, the mushroom-shaped barbs are arranged in non-straight lines. 
     
     
       10. An advertising system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mutually engageable fastening means includes two interlocking fastener components, each component having a series of stems with mushroom heads, the stems and mushroom heads on one component are adapted to interlock with the stems and mushroom heads on the other component to form a fastening engagement. 
     
     
       11. An advertising system as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a plastics material. 
     
     
       12. An advertising system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one frame member comprises a track member. 
     
     
       13. An advertising system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an advertising panel. 
     
     
       14. An advertising system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the advertising panel is flexible. 
     
     
       15. An advertising system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the advertising panel comprises synthetic paper. 
     
     
       16. An advertising system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the advertising panel comprises vinyl on a polyester mat. 
     
     
       17. An advertising system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the advertising panel comprises a mesh. 
     
     
       18. An advertising system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the advertisement panel is translucent. 
     
     
       19. An advertising system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein one frame member is provided for each edge of the advertising panel. 
     
     
       20. An advertising system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the advertising panel is T-shaped, and wherein one frame member is provided for each edge of the T-shape. 
     
     
       21. An advertising system comprising:
 an advertising panel; 
 a frame for mounting the advertising panel on a structure, the frame being releaseably engagable with the advertising panel and comprising at least one frame member having a flexible flange and a panel-receiving portion; 
 a mutually engageable fastening means comprising first and second fasteners, the second fastener being affixable to the structure; 
 wherein the first fastener is provided on an attachment face of the flange and is adapted to attach the frame in an attachment direction to the second fastener; 
 wherein the flexibility of the flange and the mutual engagement strength of the first and second fasteners are such that the frame and first fastener are separable from the second fastener by peeling action; 
 wherein the first and second fasteners each comprise a strip fastener having a plurality of mushroom-shaped interlocking barbs arranged in rows and columns; and 
 wherein a part of the panel-receiving portion extends beyond the attachment face of the flange in the attachment direction. 
 
     
     
       22. An advertising system comprising:
 a frame for mounting an advertising panel on a structure, the frame comprising at least one track member having a flexible flange and a panel-receiving portion, the panel-receiving portion being adapted to releasably engage an advertising panel; and 
 a mutually engageable fastening means comprising first and second fasteners, the second fastener being affixable to the structure, 
 wherein the first fastener is provided on an attachment face of the flange and is adapted to attach the frame in an attachment direction to the second fastener, 
 wherein the flexibility of the flange and the mutual engagement strength of the first and second fasteners are such that the track member and first fastener are separable from the second fastener by peeling action; 
 wherein the first and second fasteners each comprise a strip fastener having a plurality of mushroom-shaped interlocking barbs arranged in rows and columns; and 
 wherein a part of the panel-receiving portion extends beyond the attachment face of the flange in the attachment direction. 
 
     
     
       23. An advertising system comprising:
 a frame for mounting an advertising panel on a structure, the frame comprising at least one frame member; and a mutually engageable fastening means comprising first and second fasteners, the second fastener being affixable to the structure; 
 wherein the frame member comprises a flexible portion and a panel-receiving portion, the flexible portion comprising a first material and the panel-receiving portion comprising a second, less flexible material; 
 wherein the first fastener is provided on a flexible part of the frame, the flexibility of the frame and the mutual engagement strength of the first and second fasteners being such that the frame and first fastener are separable from the second fastener by peeling action.